Cyber-Bully

CCP‘s EVE Fanfest is an occasion renowned for it’s unabashed love of a good party.

Of course dev presentations, hands-on game demos and all that goodness are in evidence, but after all the business is done — and quite often during — the Reykjavik revelers like to imbibe a Herculean amount of booze and let their hair down.

As is often the case with a large concentration of inebriated folks, some things can get out of hand.

During the Fanfest Alliance Panel, Council of Stellar Management Chair Alexander “The Mittani” Gianturco decided to make an example of a “carebear” player by sharing an email with the attendees. The person who wrote the in-game email stated that he was going through a trying time in real-life and had been struggling with depression, to the point of suicidal thoughts.

The Mittani then asked those watching on the live stream and in his presence to send messages to the troubled individual, to encourage him to commit suicide:

“Incidentally, if you do want to make that guy kill himself his name is…[details removed]. He has his own corp, find him.”

Many on the EVE forums have been rightly damning in their criticism of the CSM Chairman’s actions, others think that people are taking the incident too seriously. The Mittani himself is as diplomatic as ever.

The following was taken from his response on the EVE forums:

“It’s pretty funny that you have people watching a TV stream who have never been to Fanfest trying to wag their fingers and cluck as if this is Hello Kitty Online. This is EVE, and Fanfest is a drunken, shambolic revel – it always has been, if you’ve been to one.

Crying about people being drunk and partying at Fanfest is like crying about suicide ganking and nonconsensual PvP in the client itself.”

CCP has responded by unequivocally distancing themselves from any actions which could bring distress to players, the company is also launching a full investigation into the matter. CCP’s Ned Coker was quick to outline the EVE Online producer’s stance in a press release this morning:

“I want to reassure you that CCP in no way condones the harassment of players, especially those who suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts, as we understand the possible consequences of such abhorrent behavior.”

Though CCP have justly condemned such actions, it’s hard to see how the company can fully extricate itself from responsibility over the unfortunate incident. It was the CCP stage he was standing on while spewing such garbage, over a live stream broadcast worldwide.

Many people enjoy playing the role of arch-villain in games, but some need to be reminded that it is only acceptable up to a point.
The video of the panel can be seen below. Warning: It contains a lot of profanity and subject matter that is considered Mature.
The Mittani speaks around the 1 hour 8 minute mark. His encouragement to send messages happens around the 1 hour 12 minute point.